Ledbetter named top pitcher

The Frontier League announced its 2007 all-star team Thursday night and Washington's Aaron Ledbetter won the Brian Tollberg Award as the Most Valuable Pitcher. Ledbetter became the league's career leader in wins in 2007 and his victory Thursday over Slippery Rock improved his record to 14-2 this year. Here's thinking the Most Valuable Pitcher Award came down to either Ledbetter or Rockford's Tanner Watson.

Chillicothe shortstop Travis Garcia won the Morgan Burkhart Award, given to the Most Valuable Player. According to the league, the MVP voting was one of the closest in its 15-year history. It was not announced who finished second to Garcia, though you could make a case for about four other players as MVP. It was indeed difficult to find a clear-cut position-player MVP, which brings me back to Ledbetter.

The FL all-star ballot simply says vote for the "Most Valuable Player" and does not mention position-players only or hitters. I know, there is a school of thought that pitchers shouldn't win or be considered for a league MVP because they have their own award and play only every fifth game, but was there really somebody more valuable than Ledbetter? Washington is 16 games above .500 and Ledbetter has a 14-2 record. Eight of his wins came after a Washington loss. Ledbetter is a big reason why the Wild Things' longest losing streak is only four games. In the 20 games Ledbetter started - throw out the one at Slippery Rock in which he pitched one inning before rain forced a suspension - and the Wild Things are 16-4.

After all of that, I admit I didn't give Ledbetter a vote for both MVP awards. I figured they were designed for one pitcher and one hitter, and voting for Ledbetter would be a wasted vote. He was my Pitcher of the Year.

My MVP among the position players was not Garcia. In fact, I didn't have Garcia as my all-star shortstop. I voted instead for Windy City's Wes Long, who went into Thursday night leading the league in doubles, tied for second in stolen bases, third in hits and fifth in batting average. It was tough to choose between Long and Garcia. What swayed me most toward Long was a game in early August in Washington in which he went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a triple and home run - and it was a game Ledbetter started and won.

Ledbetter was the only Washington player to be named to the all-star team or receive an award. Outfielder Matt Sutton probably received some support for Rookie of the Year, which went to Florence outfielder Ryan Basham.

Other awards:

1B – Mike Breyman – Gateway Grizzlies
2B – Ralph Santana – Southern Illinois Miners
3B – Joe Ramos – Kalamazoo Kings
SS – Travis Garcia – Chillicothe Paints
OF – Jon Armitage – Gateway Grizzlies
OF – Mike Coles – Windy City ThunderBolts
OF – Jason James – Rockford RiverHawks
C – Mike Russell – Kalamazoo Kings
DH – Dustin Roberts – Gateway Grizzlies
SP – Aaron Ledbetter – Washington Wild Things
RP – Matt Petty – Windy City Thunderbolts

Morgan Burkhart Award (Most Valuable Player) – Travis Garcia – Chillicothe Paints

Brian Tollberg Award (Most Valuable Pitcher) – Aaron Ledbetter – Washington Wild Things

Roger Hanners Award (Manager of the Year) – Andy Haines – Windy City ThunderBolts

Jason Simontacchi Award (Rookie of the Year) – Ryan Basham – Florence Freedom

Fran Riordan Citizenship Award – Steve Brook – River City Rascals

Organization of the Year – Southern Illinois Miners